NYU Wagner Team Takes Third Place at UCI Health - Cornell Sloan National Case Competition
In late March, the 5th annual UCI Health - Cornell Sloan National Case Competition brought top graduate students together to tackle real-world healthcare challenges. Among 40 competing teams, the NYU Wagner team secured third place, earning national recognition for their innovative strategies and a $3,000 prize.
The team—Reika Oshima (MPA-HPAM 2026), Olivia Chan (MPA-HPAM 2026), and Smrithi Mahadevan (MPA-HPAM 2026), and led by faculty member Carla Jackie Sampson, director of Wagner’s HPAM and Online MHA programs—advanced to the semifinals as one of the top eight teams. “We had spent weeks researching the UCI Health system and its unique community challenges in-depth. Then, to actually be in their buildings and Orange County to compete was surreal,” Oshima said.
Added Chan: “The three of us had never participated in a case competition before, so the recognition was a testament to our dedication, teamwork, and unique experiences and skills that we brought to the project. And, personally, it challenged me to shift my policy research brain to think through how evidence can be translated into practice at the organizational level.”
Balancing coursework and part-time jobs, the team dedicated weeks to researching UCI Health’s system and California’s healthcare landscape. Their preparation involved extensive market and policy research, refining their strategic approach, and faculty mentorship from Sampson and NYU Wagner faculty members Jacob Victory and Thomas D’Aunno. “We put in countless hours researching, brainstorming on Zoom, and meeting with our academic advisors to fine-tune our approach and presentation,” said Mahadevan. “Our advisors were invaluable—they challenged us to think critically about every solution, ensuring it was not only innovative but also realistic, operationally sound, and aligned with UCI Health’s mission.”
The competition served as an opportunity to apply their Wagner coursework in public speaking, data visualization, strategic thinking, and financial analysis. The team even used their 6-hour flight to LA to rehearse.
“We had to present feasible, concrete solutions to real problems health systems are facing across America, like workforce shortages, timely and appropriate mental health services, and providing care in the community,” said Oshima. “After presenting, we heard insights into UCI Health’s actual strategy with its four acquired hospitals.”
Beyond competition success, the experience reinforced their commitment to healthcare innovation. “This experience helped me understand the complexity of organizational change and how health systems leverage research and strategic investments to innovate within their systems and advance the field of healthcare delivery,” Chan noted. The team gained firsthand insight into balancing big ideas with operational realities, shaping their future careers in healthcare leadership.
“This opportunity to merge our unique backgrounds to come up with a creative and thoughtful solution really highlights what’s great about the interdisciplinary Wagner program,” Oshima reflected. “I’m grateful for such bright, hardworking classmates to learn and grow with.”